Janice R. Andrews
Apple has made a big change to the AirPods Pro that turns them into hearing aids that are used in hospitals. This week, the company made a number of comments about AirPods, including features that focus on hearing health. Concerns have been raised that one in three people are exposed to damaging sound environments every day. This includes setting default noise levels and making an app that measures the noise around you.
A professionally confirmed hearing test that you can access right from your iPhone is the most innovative feature. For five minutes, the test asks people to tap the screen in answer to tones with different frequencies. What the data show is that Apple will tailor all audio material, from music to phone calls, to each user’s unique hearing profile.
Apple is also adding a feature to over-the-counter hearing aids that is meant to improve sounds that people have trouble hearing. As an option to over-the-counter hearing aids, which usually cost between $1,000 and $1,500, this professional-grade feature is a good deal. The second-generation AirPods Pro, on the other hand, only cost $250.
Apple is still waiting for the FTC to give its approval, but they hope to release these hearing-related tools by fall.
